Here’s a challenge you’ve likely heard before, but may need to practice again. For a month, read a Proverbs everyday. There are 31 Proverbs – enough to fill the longest months. If you’re reading this mid-month, start with the day of the month where you are at the moment.
Proverbs are filled with wisdom. They are practical – even if you are not a follower of God, but especially for those of us who claim to be.
Let me get you started.
Here are 12 Proverbs, which if applied to your life, could actually change the quality of your life.
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. – Proverbs 15:1
A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash. – Proverbs 15:14
Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. – Proverbs 15:22
Greed brings grief to the whole family – Proverbs 15:27
Pride goes before destruction – Proverbs 16:18
Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it – Proverbs 16:22
Kind words are like honey— – Proverbs 16:24
Better to be patient than powerful – Proverbs 16:32
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven. – Proverbs 17:9
A cheerful heart is good medicine. – Proverbs 17:22
Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. – Proverbs 18:13
Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. – Proverbs 19:2
How could the relationships in your life, and your life, change if you placed a few of these nuggets into practice more often? Don’t we tend to perform opposite of these many times? How does that work for you?
Which of these most speak to you?
Right now I got to say that "Pride goes before destruction" – Proverbs 16:18 is really speaking to me. I recently changed ministry positions at my church and the transition hasn't necessarily gone as smoothly as I had hoped, at least on my end. I went from leading a large student ministry with four staff members to becoming one of our neighborhood pastors with no staff or any management responsibilities (It was by my choice)…
Having lead at a high level in student ministry for 18 years and really establishing an identity in that ministry, it is hard to swallow that I am doing something that I'm not necessarily an expert at. Proverbs 16:18 serves as a warning and relief to me… Thanks for posting this!
Thanks for your honesty.
Thanks for sharing this Ron! I reposted one of your selected Proverbs. Would love to get your thoughts on this post to my blog…
"The Simpleton's Guide to Growing Your Church" http://wp.me/p2TIRN-5b
I'll check it out. Thanks
Twitter: kmac4him
says:
Thanks! I definitely will be tweeting those! I like tweeting the wisdom of the Word, especially when you know it won't return void!
I like the Proverbs 16:22, because I believe alongside of many of the gifts God gives us, God’s discretion runs with them. We can have a God-given gift, but we also need the discretion as to when to use it. Timing is perfect and God has a good season for every timely gift, word or deed. Discretion tempers the “human condition” that my Godly gifts have to flow through and gives me a kingdom perspective that trumps my worldly view of things. Sometimes I “think” I know it all because of the gift of “discernment” that God has given me, YET I know nothing because the discretion to use that gift matters in the significance of the outcome. Eternal or Earthly?! Discretion matters! God given discretion runs alongside of our God – Given gifts and it flows through my humility as I realize I am nothing without HIM, I have nothing without HIM, even my God-given gifts yield a big zero if they are not used with God-given discretion… OH!!! I need HIM. I need His discretion to guide the gifts He has shaped in my spirit. AWE-GOD! Holy Spirit whispered discretion is powerful!
Love it